: These large structures serve as a natural support network, providing care for the elderly, widows, and children, ensuring that no member faces economic or emotional hardship alone.
: Authority often rests with the eldest male, who manages finances and major decisions, while the eldest female typically supervises domestic life. Punjabi bhabhizip
Traditionally, the —where grandparents, parents, uncles, aunts, and cousins live under one roof—has been the ideal. Even as urbanization pushes many toward nuclear families , the cultural ties remain remarkably strong. : These large structures serve as a natural
: In cities, families may live in separate apartments but often cluster in the same neighborhood, maintaining "kinship ties" that are crucial for securing jobs or childcare. A Day in the Life: Rituals and Routines providing care for the elderly